Waterproof shot-cartridge.



H. C. PRITHAM.

WATERPROOF SHOT CARTRIDGE.

APPLiCATlON FILED MAR. 3, 1915.

l 9 1 4%, 379 Patented June 29, 1915.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

HENRY C. PRITHAM, 0F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

WATERPROOF SHOT-CARTRIDGE.

Application filed March 8, 19 15. Serial No. 11,838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. PRITHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Waterproof Shot-Cartridges, of which the following is a specification.

' This inventionrelates to shot cartridges and has for its object to provide cartridges of this character that shall be more completely waterproof than any heretofore known to the trade. It is of course well understood that the rolled paper tubes from which shot cartrid ges are made, are made waterproof in various ways and that the top wads may be waterproofed, and it is furthermore well understood that the top wads in shot cartridges are secured in place andthe charges retained therein by crimping, so called, the end of the paper tube; in other words, turning the end of the tube over inward and closing it down upon the wad. Cartridges made in this manner, however, have been found subject to deterioration owing to the fact that under certain conditions moisture will find its way under the crimp and around the edge of the wad causing swelling of the wad and crimp, so as to render it diflicult and sometimes impossible to insert the cartridge in a gun chamber and sometimes permitting escape of the shot charge.

, My present invention enables me to entirely overcome these difficulties and to provide paper shot cartridges which in addition to the ordinary qualities of high grade cartridges are made completely waterproof at the crimp. This I accomplish by treating the crimp ends of the cartridges with a suitable. waterproof material w hich covers the wad and completely fills and covers the crevice at the intersection of the crimped end of the tube with the wad.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, the view is an elevation of a shot cartridge with the crimp end in section, showing the top wad and also the manner in which the end of the shell is;

erimped down upon it to retain the charge in place and also showing the application of convenient application. I may use for example a nitro -cellulose solution, or a solution of shellac in wood alcohol. There are numerous other materials that will accomplish the result just as well. .It is likewise wholly immaterial how the material is applied. If dropped upon the wads or if applied by means of a cork-tipped mandrel, surface tension will cause the material to spread over the surface of the wads, to fill in and cover the crevice at the intersection of the crimp and the Wed and to work outward more or less upon the inner face of the crimp. This is especially true if the cartridge is rotated or if a mandrel dipped in the material is rotated in close proximity to the to-p wad. Any desired color may be given to the material, but at present I am stoodof course that the materials used will HENRY C. PRITHAM.

Witnesses Geo. T. WURM, MAYNAnn T. SMITH. 

